Author: Rhys Gregory

Developers of residential and mixed-use property developments in Wales can now access up to £10 million in finance from the Development Bank of Wales for both speculative and non-speculative developments. Funded by the Welsh Government, the Wales Residential Property Fund will offer SME developers clear and easy access to flexible loans ranging from £150,000 to £10 million with repayment terms of up to four years and up to 100% of build costs. The £117 million fund is fully recyclable so is expected to have a total investment impact of £770 million by 2039, providing certainty of funding to the market,…

A teacher has transformed her passion for education into a thriving enterprise, as Business Wales assistance enables Llandrindod Learning Pod to launch and quickly grow its support for learners from a variety of backgrounds, including additional learning needs. Angela Costain-Williams, who has over 25 years of teaching experience, created her service to provide flexible homeschooling support for all children including those with learning difficulties and special needs. Business Wales has played a vital role in helping Angela meet soaring demand for her unique service offering flexible homeschooling for children aged 4 to 16, delivered in a space where children can…

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has announced the sale of the Fox & Hounds, a historic village pub with guest accommodation in the Vale of Glamorgan. Located around seven miles from Cardiff in the village of Llancarfan, the Fox & Hounds is a charming stone-built pub, estimated to date back to the 16th century. Situated in a picturesque streamside location at the heart of the village, the pub is renowned for its food offering, as well as having a large outside seating area and eight ensuite letting bedrooms. The pub was sold on behalf of Coach House Inns,…

Ceredigion County Council has conducted a comprehensive review of the 20mph speed limits across the county, following a call from the Welsh Government to gather residents’ feedback, and provision of new ’30mph exception’ guidance in 2024. During the ‘listening phase’ from May to September 2024, Ceredigion County Council received 62 individual comments, of these 23 expressed support for the new 20mph limits, 20 expressed desires for a change to the national policy, 16 objected to existing 20mph limits on county roads, eight referred directly to Welsh Government-managed Trunk Road locations, over which the Council has no jurisdiction, and 3 were deemed…

A Denbighshire-based construction firm has been awarded a duo of design and build contracts totalling more than £20million by North Wales’ largest housing association. Wynne Construction began building a new 47-home social housing complex on Berse Road, Wrexham, in March following its appointment from Adra. With a scheduled completion date of autumn 2026, the £9million development will consist of apartments and a mixture of two, three, and four-bedroom homes that are available to rent. The contractor is also set to build 49 social houses on Abergele Road, Bodelwyddan, a stone’s throw away from its headquarters. Work is expected to start…

Principality Building Society, Wales’ largest, announces relocation from its long-standing Kingsway branch to a central location on Oxford St. This move marks a significant milestone in the branch’s history, reflecting Principality’s continued commitment to maintain its high street and community presence until at least the end of 2030 – recognising the importance of access to cash and in-person services for its Members. Work on the new location has been underway for several months, with the aim of creating a modern, welcoming space that enhances Members’ experience while remaining true to Principality’s long-standing heritage – especially fitting as the building society…

A man has been jailed after biting his adult son and striking him with his walking stick following a family meal. 58-year-old Anthony O’Connell, of no fixed abode, was involved in the domestic incident in May 2024. Just a few weeks later, he would commit a further offence of robbery, for which he was handed a seven-year extended sentence. After pleading guilty to ABH against his son, he has now been sentenced to two years and four months in prison, to be served concurrently with his extended sentence. Sergeant Kelly Richards said: “Anthony O’Connell’s offending was frequent and will have…

Christopher Burden from Trowbridge, Cardiff, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for child sex offences. The 35-year-old was sentenced at Merthyr Crown Court on May 28, 2025. Detective Constable Simon Hicks from South Wales Police said:“I want to commend the victims for their courage in coming forward. “It has been a traumatic time for everyone involved and I am hopeful the outcome at court brings the victims and their families some comfort which they deserve.” Burden had denied the offences but was found guilty of rape of a boy and multiple offences of sexual assault of a boy…

Newport City Council is planning to invest £6.6m into the city’s road network over the next 12 months. The investment will support a major road maintenance programme, focusing on the city’s most critical and highest-priority roads. These include roads such as Malpas Road, Newport Bridge, Lighthouse Road, Chepstow Road and Caerleon Road. The council has secured just over £4.4m from Welsh government to help finance the programme, through the government’s new highway management local government borrowing initiative. The council will also be allocating around £2.2m of its own resources to the programme. This includes £1m from underspend from the previous…

Construction has officially commenced on the new £38 million Caerphilly Leisure and Wellbeing Hub, with Alliance Leisure and Morgan Sindall assuming responsibility for the site on Friday 6th June 2025. Situated close to Caerphilly Business Park and public transport links, this state-of-the-art facility is set to transform a disused area into a modern, inclusive space that promotes healthier, more active lifestyles for residents across the county borough. Delivered by Caerphilly County Borough Council as part of its ongoing place shaping programme, the development also supports the wider Caerphilly Town 2035 regeneration vision. The two-storey hub will feature a leisure swimming…